ALL NOT ROSY ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEBATE: Minister for Women Akbar SLAMS Speaker Jiko Luveni over insensitive comments

22/5/2016

“Victim blaming attitude actually marginalizes victims. It makes it harder on them to come and report such cases of abuse because as a survivor or as a victim you may feel that the society blatantly blames you for the abuse or the violence that is inflicted upon you.” Rosy Akbar

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar says she is saddened by comments on domestic violence by Speaker to Parliament, Dr Jiko Luveni.

During the Rishikul Sanatan College Professional Development Programme held in Nasinu on Tuesday, Dr Luveni said that women sometimes aggravated a situation of domestic violence.

Ms Akbar said such comments were inappropriate. She reiterated that the ministry did not tolerate or condone any form of violence against women and children or anyone.

“I believe there is never any excuse against violence.”

She said victim blaming attitude was a barrier that placed survivors in great danger.

“Victim blaming attitude actually marginalizes victims. It makes it harder on them to come and report such cases of abuse because as a survivor or as a victim you may feel that the society blatantly blames you for the abuse or the violence that is inflicted upon you.”

She added that by engaging in victim blaming attitude “we will only allow the abuser to perpetrate relationship abuse while avoiding accountability for his or her actions.”

Ms Akbar acknowledged that while Fiji may have one of the best laws to curb violence against women and children, community leaders needed to work together.

“We all need to work together to see how best we can protect – not only our women and girls but also our children, our elderly, our disabled and all vulnerable group.”

Ms Akbar is determined to continue the fight with the assistance of enforcement agencies like Police and civil society organizations.

She is also calling on all stakeholders to be responsible and to be mindful about what is said about an issue that is at the top of our national priority. Source: Fiji Sun

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/speaking-up-for-husbands-in-domestic-violence-speaker-says-women-should-know-when-to-shut-up-to-avoid-getting-violently-whacked-at-home

8 Comments

Pita

23/5/2016 12:44:18 am

The Speaker of Parluament is supposed to be neutral and should have relinquished her post as FFP President the minute she assumed the position of Speaker. The Minister for Women was right to condemn "blaming the victim" by her own Party Predident. But talk needs to be followed up with action. Her Ministry should organise anger management workshops and the Madam Soeaket and her temper prone husband should be the first to enrol. The well known phrase an officer and a gentleman obviously diesn't apply in Fiji when the Dpeaker can publically disclose she is often the victim of domestic violence by her naval officer husband albeit self inflicted as she admits.

Pyotr Velikiy

23/5/2016 01:28:51 am

Wonder what Field Marshall VILI would have to say about her dentist aunty.
Buturaki is a Fijian cultural heritage and tradition. Beating everyone including women and children is ingrained in the psychological sphere of a newborn child in godless Fiji. It would take years of education and travel abroad for this state of mind to be re-educated into the modern world.
This rejuvenated Alliance government of the past albeit in a new name is not capable of instigating such changes.
One must remember the years of Ratu Mara and his band of Freeloading Indians. This time the names have changed but the philosophy hasn't. Aiyaz Khaiyum did try to get the Alliance party running again, for the elections of 2006 under the name of "The New Alliance Party" but it failed to get any votes apart from family members. The beneficiaries of this Alliance Party are mainly Muslim breathen similar to before when only,Lauans were getting all the dosh.
The same racists or their children remain in power. The chief pilot of Fiji Airways is a classic example,son of Villiame Gonelevu who was one of the close associates of Rabuka in 1987. Gonelevu's brother in law was made chief pilot by Rabuka and when he retired, he deliberately chose his nephew to take the lead role at the airline,even though he fails most of his check rides and short courses.
One look at civil aviation authority will show you similar uneducated or failed pilots, now become flight inspectors. Villiame Niumataiwalu, a "senior" inspector got lost one cloudy day trying to find his way to NAUSORI airport. Navneet Sherman(son of former health minister) crashed 2 planes and is now an inspector. So whilst we talk about Jiko Luveni, we should all share a moments silence for this ungodly country and stop complaining because most people voted them in.....perhaps or the government probably did ballot stuffing.We won't know as the elections office has shredded all ballot papers.

Welcome Home

23/5/2016 05:51:03 am

Minister Rosy Akbar is quite correct in her view. Any encouragement for the Culture of Silence should never be entertained. The law is now well framed and needs to be applied but this will require extensive and sensitive training of all parties to equitable enforcement. A Culture of Understanding is required and men now need to be party to this. Champions for Family Happiness? Guardian Angels of Harmony At Home? It is not impossible to achieve a world standing in such change and the benefit for everyone would be measurable in multiple outcomes as trust was restored.

Builder

23/5/2016 10:40:42 am

Rosy gave a rosy statement: "We all need to work together to see how best we can protect – not only our women and girls but also our children, our elderly, our disabled and all vulnerable group.”

So when will Rosy start work to protect all of us citizens. Afterall we all are vulnerable to the Khai constitution and khai laws? Even the mighty Australian banks are in the category of vulnerable groups, as the recent Data Bureau closure law shows.

So Rosy: we are behind you - protect us please. Face Khai and Bai and tell them as it is.

Bahuki

24/5/2016 07:39:51 am

A true Iron Lady in Rosy Akbar for slamming Luveni's comments, its like the Dr herself is promoting patriarchy with those kind of remarks.

And yet she's the speaker of the house that clearly doesn't seem completely neutral at all.

Luckyveirau

24/5/2016 07:59:45 am

Both these ladies have similar past behavioral patterns...adulterous, family breakdown and abandoning their children. How qualified are they to comment on these issues when they both have very very poor moral & ethic upkeeps in their lives. They should go talk to the pigs.

Welcome Home

24/5/2016 10:08:39 am

It is encouraging to read that Senior Police Officers of both sexes are now attending FWCC briefings on sexual abuse and domestic violence crimes. It is greatly dismaying when in past years no attention whatsoever was being paid in the West to attempts to get help for women who had been raped, molested or were subjected to crimes of incest. Doubly so when overseas visitors had been viciously raped on our beaches and were prepared to testify in court. In 2006 at Lautoka there was a Sexual Offences Squad in place with WPCs under a female Police Sergeant i/c. This is what women want and in particular female visitors who have suffered indignity and trauma of unexpected attack. Their husbands or male partners have also often witnessed or been harassed by attackers. They wish to know how such cases will be treated: medically, psychologically and in the courts with Due Process. Too often all who have encountered cases even seasoned diplomats have been dismayed and dissatisfied. Remanded alleged rapists have been assisted to escape from Police cells. Memories of incompetence, confusion and tampered or destroyed evidence compound injuries and will destroy trust in due process and procedures. Rapes in today's world are tantamount to ongoing torment not just for victims. For entire families and into the future. We should never forget this.

Welcome Home

25/5/2016 08:24:35 am

It is more than gratifying to learn today that women in Fiji should no longer have to look forward to 'having to accept the unacceptable'. It is little less than elating. This from the Istanbul Summit and from the PM who stated he is determined to improve the performance of his government in this specific area. Now it must be hoped that some coherence will intrude and performance will match the earnest pronouncement. It cannot come too soon. Fiji has exerted itself and overcome huge hurdles in the HSBC Rugby Sevens and has a truly global audience of Well-Wishers. A Climate of Happiness is a worthy aspiration and this is not beyond reach: ask the government of the Kingdom of Bhutan who initiated the idea.

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ALL NOT ROSY ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEBATE: Minister for Women Akbar SLAMS Speaker Jiko Luveni over insensitive comments

“Victim blaming attitude actually marginalizes victims. It makes it harder on them to come and report such cases of abuse because as a survivor or as a victim you may feel that the society blatantly blames you for the abuse or the violence that is inflicted upon you.” Rosy Akbar

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